Dear Landry,

THREE!

I can hardly believe it.  

We are finally coming out of the baby stage, and your daddy and I are loving it.  Doing things as a family has become so much easier and so much more fun.  We're really looking forward to this phase of life and getting to hang out with you kiddos all together.

Let me tell you something little boy--you are straight crazy!  You keep us laughing with all of your spontaneous antics and your silliness.  You are nonstop all. day. long.  You love to make silly faces and talk in silly voices and spin around on the floor on your belly like a top and make messes...  we don't really know "where you came from", but you keep things around here interesting for sure.

One of our favorite things about you is that you are a dancing fool!  You literally can't help but wiggle when you hear a good beat.  You will bang your head so hard in the car that your whole car seat shakes!  And if a song you like comes on and you're sitting down--oh, no sir...you pop up like a pop tart and boogie right out in the middle of everybody.  It is the best.  I really hope you never let any insecurities or fear or self-consciousness dampen your willingness to dance, anytime, anywhere.  Your absolute favorite song to dance to is "Dance Like Yo Daddy" by Meghan Trainor--you can also sing almost every word :)

Now I just grin when I think about being worried about your development--because you have made up for lost time for sure...  You can count to 25; know all your colors; know how to spell your name; can aim and throw a ball better than some adults (myself included); identify animals and their sounds; can and will carry on full conversations with just about anyone you meet; and you are learning to control your emotions ;)  You're basically just stubborn and temperamental and want to do things on your own terms.  Oh, and possibly the best skill you picked up this year--you are completely potty trained!  #nomorediapers  You can also buckle yourself in your carseat completely alone now.  Ohhhh, the independence! 

My favorite little vocabulary thing you're doing right now is saying "my" in place of "I"...  "my love you, mama"..."my am!"..."my don't want to"..."my want a corndog"  

I love it.

You've earned a couple of nicknames in your three little years.  If asked, you are 100% of the time daddy's boy--and he loves that.  He calls you T-boy, and you love that :).   Mama gave you the monicker "tootey" from the very beginning and it has just stuck for me.  You're Papa's buddy through and through.  Kaplan has always called you "Lanj"--like the first syllable of Landry when you say it (he changed the "druh" sound to a "j")--he started that on his own and you definitely answer to it.  So precious.  And possibly the most accurate--your PawPaw's "Ricochet".  He and Nanny kept you all one weekend when you were little, and as you bounced around their couch like a pinball, he coined your name Ricochet.  It is so incredibly appropriate for you!  You love everybody and are super friendly, but as you can tell by who all is giving you these nicknames, you really like guys.  Bella and Kaplan weren't a huge fan of men as little kids, but you have been a man's man since day one ;)

One thing about you going 90 to nothing all day, when you do finally stop, you crash hard.  You're an incredible sleeper and so easy to get to bed.  You're a sweet little snuggle bug (especially with your daddy) and love to give random hugs and kisses throughout the day.  You also picked up on Kaplan's phrase of "you're my favorite mom/dad/etc" and I absolutely love it.  A few months ago, you became obsessed with kissing people on their noses (again, no clue where that came from), and will not go to bed without giving me a kiss on the nose and getting one in return.  

You were never much of a stuffed animal kid until you caught this puppy at the Mardi Gras parade (a lady threw it specifically to you <3). You were obsessed with it immediately and still are.

Being outside has always been your favorite.  Always.  You will stay out there as long as I will possibly let you.  Plus, that's usually where you get to hang out with your daddy and do cool things.  Fishing, working in the woods, riding on the side by side, reloading ammo, working on the cars, building all the things, playing with Rudy, cleaning ducks...you love every minute.  

  

Hanging out in the deer stand after y'all helped daddy set it all up.

You also love all sports with balls (baseball, basketball, football, golf...) and cannot wait until you're old enough to play!

**side note: you love cheering with us for the Saints, the Astros, and Tech.  You'll shout/growl "How bout them Dawgs!", "Go Stros!", and "Who Dat say they gonna beat them Saints, not the Cowboys"  hahahaha!  I would say the who dat chant each week we won and add "not the ______" (whoever we were playing)...I promise, with no encouragement from us, the Cowboys are the only team you repeated and now you won't say the chant without that part, hahaha.  Oops ;)

Arabella and Kaplan are your absolute best friends.  You think you're as big as they are and that you can do everything they can (combine this with your lack of fear and things get real interesting).  You all fight like cats and dogs--you have NO problem defending yourself; you're in attack mode, always--but you all also fiercely protect and love each other.  Y'all come up with all kinds of weird little games and imaginative play that's so neat to watch unfold.  I hope with all of my heart that the three of you are always, always best friends.  

Just like your brother and sister, you love music (this makes my heart so very happy!).  We've already talked about your dancing, but you also love to sing.  Hearing your squeaky little voice sing along with songs all the way from Jesus songs to classic country to pop to classic rock to Christmas carols to Frank Sinatra and everything in between.  Your absolute favorite is "The Elements" by TobyMac.  You also love all Descendants songs (and pretty much all Disney), Deep Cries Out, Spill the Wine, and all of the songs on your daddy's boat playlist.

Landry Cohen, you have added so much joy and love to our little family...and a little bit of craziness too!  You have taught me more about patience than I wanted to learn, and you have pushed me to the very brink of sanity (often) before smiling just right to suck me back in.  You know how cute you are and you know how to work it!  It is so much fun to see little pieces of who we are come out in you.  You are such a cool kid.  I hope you never lost your curiosity and determination, tenderness and kindness...and your JOY!

Your daddy and I will fight for you, protect you, teach you, and love you every single day of our lives.  You will always be our precious, perfect son; our third baby; our beautiful, blessed gift.

Happy birthday, my tootey!  I love you more than you will ever know.

xoxo, mama